Abstract
Serum bio-chemical and haematological indices constitute important panels in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of livestock diseases via the investigations of myriads of parameters influencing these blood and serum bio-chemical indices. Serum bio-chemical indices, haematological indices and blood electrolytes are critical physiological indices which have health implications on the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of livestock diseases especially in animals bred under different management systems. It is important to stress that cascades of parameters of both genetic and non-genetic origin greatly have direct and in-direct health implications on serum bio-chemical indices and blood electrolytes in livestock animals and subsequently on their health/ production performances. Laboratory blood tests would be a vital tool to help detect any deviation from normal state of wellbeing in animals. Therefore, this review intends to provide base line information to establish certain haematological and serum bio-chemical indices as standard references which can be employed as alternative therapy for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cascades of diseases plaguing livestock animals bred under different management systems especially under the harsh condition of the tropics. Hence, it is important to establish standard values for the various blood and serum bio-chemical indices base on parameters of non-genetic origin; age, sex, physiological state, stress level, management systems, medication, health status, nutrition, hormone, climate, etc. and genetic parameters which include the breed and genotype of the animal among others obviously affect the blood and serum profile of healthy animal which subsequently influence their production performance and efficiency.
Highlights
Serum bio-chemical and haematological references constitute important panels in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of livestock diseases via the investigations of myriads of parameters influencing blood and serum biochemical indices among which are packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), total blood glucose (TBG), total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase or alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase (CK), albumin (Alb), c-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), amylase, globulin, cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride, folate, vitamin A and E, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine concentrations, serum retinol and α-tocopherol concentration in livestock animals [1]
Serum glucose levels showed no reproductive and seasonal rhythm in sheep, the reason for maintaining constant glucose concentration in ewe might be depended on the different carbohydrate metabolism rather than season, while ALP activities increased in late pregnancy in ewe [1]
Folate, GGT, TBG, globulin, TP, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, and T4/T3 ratio could be used as reference parameters in both mated and non-mated ewe basically because no differences were found due to the reproductive status [1]
Summary
Serum bio-chemical and haematological references constitute important panels in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of livestock diseases via the investigations of myriads of parameters influencing blood and serum biochemical indices among which are packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), total blood glucose (TBG), total protein (TP), urea, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase or alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine kinase (CK), albumin (Alb), c-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), amylase, globulin, cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride, folate, vitamin A and E, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations, serum retinol and α-tocopherol concentration in livestock animals [1]. Seasonal variations affect T4 values in sheep [3] [14] [15], in calves [16], in goats [17] [18] This might informs that cold environment could be a stimulus that increases the levels of thyrotrophic hormone, thereby resulting in higher concentrations of thyroid hormones in serum. The reason for the higher urea/creatinine ratio in pregnant ewe relative to non-pregnant counterparts could be due to the increase in GFR and reproductive status of sheep [31]. Serum glucose levels showed no reproductive and seasonal rhythm in sheep, the reason for maintaining constant glucose concentration in ewe might be depended on the different carbohydrate metabolism rather than season, while ALP activities increased in late pregnancy in ewe [1]. Folate, GGT, TBG, globulin, TP, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, and T4/T3 ratio could be used as reference parameters in both mated and non-mated ewe basically because no differences were found due to the reproductive status [1]
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